The .50 BMG cartridge is also used in long-range target and
sniper rifles, as well as other .50
machine guns. The use in single-shot and semi-automatic rifles has
resulted in many specialized match-grade
rounds not used in .50 machine guns. A McMillan Tac-50 .50 BMG sniper rifle was used by Canadian Corporal
Rob Furlong to bring off the
longest-range confirmed sniper kill in
history, when he shot a Taliban combatant at
2,430 meters (2,657 yards) during the 2002 campaign in Afghanistan.

The previous record for a confirmed long-distance was set by US
Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock in
1967, the distance was 2,286 meters (2,500 yards) or . Hathcock
used the same round in an M2
Browning Machine Gun equipped with a telescopic sight. This
weapon was used by other snipers, and eventually purpose-built
sniper rifles were developed especially for this round. The
previous standard for ammunition for sniper rifles was .30-06, but
the .50 round is more accurate at extreme range.

A wide variety of ammunition is
available, and the availability of match-grade ammunition has
increased the usefulness of .50 caliber rifles by allowing more
accurate fire than lower quality rounds.

History

The round was conceptualized during World
War I by John Browning in response to a requirement for an
anti-aircraft weapon. The round itself is based on a scaled-up
.30-06 Springfield design, and
the machine gun was based on a scaled-up M1919/M1917 design that
Browning had initially developed around 1900 (but which was not
adopted by the U.S. military until 1917, hence the model
designation). The new heavy machine gun, the Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun, was used
heavily in aircraft, especially during World War II, though its
airborne use is limited to helicopters at present. It was and still
is used on the ground as well, both vehicle mounted, in fixed
fortifications, and on occasion carried by infantry. The
incendiary, armor-piercing (AP), armor-piercing incendiary (API),
and armor-piercing incendiary tracer (APIT) rounds were especially
effective against aircraft, and the AP rounds and API rounds were excellent for
destroying concrete bunkers, structures, and lighter AFV. The API and APIT rounds left
a flash, report, and smoke on contact, useful in detecting strikes
on enemy targets.

The development of the .50 round is sometimes confused with the
German 13.2 mm TuF,
which was developed by Germany for an anti-tank rifle to combat British tanks
during WWI. However, the development of the U.S. .50 round was
started before this later German project was completed or even
known to the Allied countries. When word of the German anti-tank
round spread, there was some debate as to whether it should be
copied and used as a base for the new machine gun cartridge.
However, after some analysis the German ammunition was ruled out,
both because performance was inferior to the modified Springfield
.30-06 round and because it was a semi-rimmed cartridge, making it
sub-optimal for an automatic weapon. The round's dimensions and
ballistic traits are totally different. Instead, the M2HB Browning
with its .50 armor-piercing cartridges would go on to function as
an anti-aircraft and anti-vehicular machine gun, with a capability
of completely perforating 0.875" (22.2 mm) of face-hardened
armor steel plate at 100 yards (91 m), and 0.75" (19 mm) at
547 yards (500 m).

Decades later, the .50 BMG would be chambered in high-powered
rifles as well. The concept of a .50 machine gun was not an
invention of this era; this caliber (.50) had been used in Maxim
machine guns and in a number of manual machine guns such as the
original Gatling.

The .50 BMG cartridge.

During World War II the .50 was
primarily used in the M2 Browning machine gun for anti-vehicular
and anti-aircraft purposes. An upgraded variant of the M2 Browning
machine gun used during World War II is still in use today. Since
the mid-1950s, some armoured personnel carriers and utility
vehicles have been made to withstand 12.7 mm machine gun fire,
thus making it a much less flexible weapon. It still has more
penetrating power than light machine guns such as general purpose machine guns,
though it is significantly heavier and cumbersome to transport. Its
range and accuracy, however, are superior to light machine guns when fixed on tripods,
and it has not been replaced as the standard caliber for western
vehicle mounted machine guns (Soviet and CIS armoured vehicles
mount 12.7 mm DShK, NSV, which are ballistically very similar
to the .50 BMG, or 14.5 mm KPV machine guns, which have
significantly superior armour penetration compared to any
12.7 mm round).

The Barrett M82 .50 Caliber rifle and
later variants were born during the 1980s and have upgraded the
anti-materiel power of the military sniper.
A skilled sniper can effectively neutralize an infantry unit by
eliminating several targets (soldiers or equipment) without
revealing his precise location. The long range (1 mile+) between
firing position and target allows time for the sniper to avoid
enemy retribution by either changing positions repeatedly, or by
safely retreating.

Power

A common method for understanding the actual power of a cartridge
is by comparing muzzle energies. The Springfield .30-06, the
standard caliber for American soldiers in World War II and a
popular caliber amongst American hunters, can produce muzzle
energies between 2000 and 3000 foot
pounds of energy (between 3 and 4 kilojoules). A .50 BMG round
can produce between 10,000 and 15,000 foot pounds (between 14 and
18 kilojoules) or more, depending on its powder and bullet type, as
well as the rifle it was fired from. Due to the high ballistic
coefficient of the bullet, the .50 BMG's trajectory also suffers
less "drift" from cross-winds than smaller and lighter calibers,
making the .50 BMG a good choice for high powered sniper
rifles.

Cartridge dimensions

These measurements are not suggested
for reloading use.

The 50 BMG 12.7 x 99 NATO has 290 grains H2O (19 ml)
cartridge case capacity. The round is a scaled up version of the
.30-06 Springfield but uses a
case wall with a long taper to facilitate feeding and extraction in
various weapons.

50 BMG basic cartridge dimensions. All sizes in
inches (in). The common riflingtwist rate for this cartridge is 1 in 15 in
(381 mm), with 8 lands and grooves. The primer type specified for this ammunition is
Boxer primer that has a single centralized ignition point (US and
NATO countries). However, some other countries produce the
ammunition with Berdan primers that have two flash holes, the U.S.
Army Ammunition Data Sheets — Small Caliber Ammunition, not
including plastic practice, short cased spotter, or proof/test
loads, is 54,923 PSI (378 MPa or 3,787 bar). The proof/test
pressure is listed as 65,000 psi (448 MPa or 4,482 bar). As a note
these are the military machine gun standards and not ideal for use
as guidelines in reloading or personal use.

Military cartridge types

.50 BMG cartridges are also produced commercially with a
plethora of different bullets and to a number of different
specifications.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer, M1

Tracer for observing fire, signaling, target designation, and
incendiary purposes. This bullet has a red tip.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Incendiary, M1

This cartridge is used against unarmored, flammable targets.
The incendiary bullet has a light blue tip.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, M2

This cartridge is used against personnel and unarmored targets.
This bullet has an unpainted tip.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Armor-Piercing,
M2

This cartridge is used against lightly armored vehicles,
protective shelters, and personnel, and can be identified by its
black tip.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Armor-Piercing-Incendiary,
M8

This cartridge is used, in place of the armor piercing round,
against armored, flammable targets. The bullet has a silver
tip.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer, M10

Tracer for observing fire, signaling, target designation, and
incendiary purposes. Designed to be less intense than the M1
tracer, the M10 has an orange tip.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer, M17

Tracer for observing fire, signaling, target designation, and
incendiary purposes. Can be fired from the M82/M107 series of rifles.

Cartridge, Caliber .50,
Armor-Piercing-Incendiary-Tracer, M20

This cartridge is used, in place of the armor piercing round,
against armored, flammable targets, with a tracer element for
observation purposes. This cartridge is effectively a variant of
the M8 Armor-Piercing Incendiary with the added tracer element. Can
be fired from the M82/M107 series
of rifles. This bullet has a red tip with a ring of aluminum
paint.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Tracer, Headlight,
M21

Tracer for use in observing fire during air-to-air combat.
Designed to be more visible, the M21 is 3 times more brilliant than
the M1 tracer.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Incendiary, M23

This cartridge is used against unarmored, flammable targets.
The tip of the bullet is painted blue with a light blue
ring.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, M33

This cartridge is used against personnel and unarmored targets.
Can be fired from the M82/M107
series of rifles.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Saboted Light Armor Penetrator,
M903

This is a Saboted Light Armor
Penetrator round, which uses a smaller 355-360 grain bullet
fitted in an amber colored plastic sabot. For use only in
the M2 series of machine
guns.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Saboted Light Armor
Penetrator-Tracer, M962

Like the M903, this is a Saboted Light Armor Penetrator (SLAP)
round, with the only difference being that the M962 also has a
tracer element for observing fire, target designation, and
incendiary purposes. It uses red colored plastic sabot for
identification. For use only in the M2 series of machine guns.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Ball, XM1022

A long-range match cartridge specifically designed for long
range work using the M107
rifle.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, M1022 Long Range
Sniper

The .50 Caliber M1022 has an olive green bullet coating with no
tip ID coloration. The projectile is of standard ball design. It is
designed for long-range sniper training and tactical use against
targets that do not require armor piercing or incendiary effect. It
exhibits superior long range accuracy and is trajectory matched to
MK211 grade A. The M1022 is ideal for use in all .50 Caliber bolt
action and semi-automatic sniper platforms.

A so-called "combined effects" cartridge, the Mk 211 Mod 0
High-Explosive-Incendiary-Armor-Piercing (HEIAP) cartridge contains
a .30 caliber tungsten penetrator, zirconium powder, and
Composition A explosive. It can be used in any .50 caliber weapon
in US inventory with the exception of the M85 machine gun. Cartridge is identified by
a green tip with a grey ring.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, MK257 Armor Piercing Incendiary
Dim Tracer

The .50 Caliber MK257 API-DT has a purple bullet tip. The
bullet has a hardened steel core and incendiary tip. The .50
Caliber MK257 is used in machine guns M2, M3, and M85. Dim trace
reduces the possibility of the weapon being located during night
fire and is visible with night vision devices only.

As with the Mk 211 Mod 0, but with a tracer component. This
cartridge likely can be used in any .50 caliber weapon in US
inventory with the exception of the M85
machine gun, as with the Mk 211 Mod 0. Cartridge is identified
by an unknown coloring.

This cartridge is used against hardened targets such as
bunkers, for suppressive fire against lightly armored vehicles, and
ground and aerial threat suppression. It is generally fired either
from pilot-aimed aircraft-mounted guns or anti-aircraft platforms
both produced by FN Herstal. It is identified by a gray over
yellow tip. A tracer variant of it also exists.

Cartridge, Caliber .50, Saboted Light Armor Penetrator
(SLAP), M903

This cartridge has a 355 - 360 gr (23.00 - 23.33 g) heavy metal
(tungsten) penetrator that is sabot-launched at a muzzle velocity
of 4,000 ft/s (1,219 m/s). The 0.30 in (7.7 mm) diameter sabot,
which is designed to break up at the muzzle to release the
penetrator, must also survive the gun environment until launch. It
is injection molded of special high strength plastic and is
reinforced with an aluminum insert in the base section. The
cartridge is identified by an amber sabot (Ultem 1000).

Legal issues

The specified maximum diameter of an unfired .50 BMG bullet is ;
while this appears to be over the .50 inch (12.7 mm) maximum
allowed for non-sporting Title I small arms under the U.S. National Firearms Act, the barrel of a
.50 BMG rifle is only across the rifling
lands, and slightly larger in the grooves. The oversized bullet is
formed to the bore size upon firing, forming a tight seal and
engaging the rifling, a mechanism which in firearms terms is known
as engraving. Subject to political controversy due to the great
power of the cartridge (it is the most powerful commonly available
cartridge not considered a destructive device under the National
Firearms Act), it remains popular among long-range shooters for its
accuracy and external
ballistics. While the .50 BMG round is able to deliver accurate
shot placement (if match grade
ammunition is used) at ranges over , smaller caliber rifles produce
better scores and tighter groups in competitions.

Since the
adoption of .50 BMG rifles by military sniper
units, there has been a growing gun
control movement in some states, including California, New
York, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and
Illinois, to ban
civilian possession of .50 BMG rifles and
ammunition. Bill AB50 in California, passed in 2004, known
as the .50
Caliber BMG Regulation Act of 2004 classifies all .50 BMG
rifles of any action type as assault
weapons, which are illegal to import into the state or transfer
to any but a state agency or dealer licensed to purchase them. The
bill's sponsor, California Assemblyman Paul
Koretz, claimed that the .50 BMG "would be an ideal choice for
use in an act of terrorism."

However, .50 BMG caliber rifles have lengths usually between four
and five feet (1.2-1.5 meters) and weights from 20 to 40 pounds
(10–20 kg), making the heaviest .50 caliber rifle similar in
weight to an Olympic sized barbell bar with
no weights on it, sized similar to a pair of skis. This makes them
unwieldy and difficult to conceal, and are a rarity in crime
statistics. For example, the Violence Policy Center is only able to
document 4 actual uses of .50 BMG rifles by criminals, and only
accounts for a total of 18 additional cases in which a .50 caliber
rifle was recovered from the possession of a criminal without the
gun having been used in a crime. The General Accounting Office
prepared a report in 1999, in which it stated that the ATF had only
received a total of 18 "traces" for 50 BMG rifles related to
criminal activity for rifles made by the largest of 50 BMG
manufacturers, Barrett. Of these only one "trace" related to claimed
actual use of a rifle, and deals with a highly controversial event
itself, the Waco
siege of the Branch Davidian ranch by the ATF and
FBI.

After AB50 was passed, Barrett proceeded to cease sales
and service of .50 BMG rifles to California law enforcement
agencies. An official press release from the owner of Barrett
Firearms can be found on the company's website, as follows:
"The California legislature has banned the .50 BMG from the
good citizens of the state of California, violating their rights
and the constitution of our republic.Therefore, Barrett
will not sell to or service any California government
agencies."

In response to legal action against the .50 BMG in the United
States and Europe, an alternative chambering was developed. The
.510 DTC Europ uses the same bullet,
but has slightly different case dimensions. .510 DTC cases can be
made by fire-forming .50 BMG cases. The new round has almost
identical ballistics, but because of the
different dimensions, rifles chambered for .510 DTC cannot fire the
.50 BMG, and therefore do not fall under many of the same legal
prohibitions. Barrett offers a similar alternative, the .416 Barrett, which is based on a shortened .50
BMG case necked down to .416
caliber (10.3 mm).

Despite the otherwise strict firearms laws within the United
Kingdom it is possible to own a .50 BMG rifle as a section 1
firearm.

Typical uses

The primary civilian users of .50 caliber rifles, which range in
price from around USD$1,600 for single shot AR-15 upper conversions
to well over USD$8,000 for the semi-automatic, magazine-fed
Barrett M82A1, are long-range
target shooters; the Fifty Caliber Shooters Association, for
instance, holds .50 BMG shooting matches nationwide in the
U.S.

The U.S. Coast Guard uses .50 BMG
weapons for drug interdictions. Effective interdiction requires
that personnel on Coast Guard cutters be able to deliver accurate
fire to stop high-speed drug runners. Similarly, .50 BMG weapons
have attracted attention from law enforcement agencies; they have
been adopted by the New
York City Police Department as well as the Pittsburgh
Police. If it becomes necessary to immobilize a vehicle, a .50
BMG round in the engine block will shut
it down quickly. If it is necessary to breach barriers, a .50 BMG
round will penetrate most commercial brick walls and concrete
cinder blocks.

In addition to long-range and anti-materiel sniping, the U.S. military
uses .50 BMG weapons to detonate unexploded ordnance from a safe
distance. The Raufoss Multipurpose round has sufficient terminal
performance to disable most unarmored and lightly armored vehicles,
making .50 BMG caliber weapons helpful in anti-insurgency
operations.

The cartridge is also used by some hunters
for taking game at extreme ranges; while the energy of the .50 BMG
at close range is excessive for most game, at long ranges the
velocity has dropped to levels that allow the taking of game
animals without excessive damage to the animal.